Global demand for low-pressure laminates (low-basis weight papers, saturated papers, vinyl films, and decorative foils) is forecast to increase 2.2% per year to 9.1 billion square meters in 2024.

Among the key drivers of growth in fresh produce packaging will be increasing sales of ready-to-eat (RTE) salads and pre-cut produce – which are typically sold in clamshells, cups, and other plastic containers.

Sustainable packaging is increasingly important across consumer industries, but especially in the fresh produce industry, in part because consumers who purchase such products tend to be environmentally conscious.

According to the Freedonia Group’s National Online Consumer Survey, slightly more than half of US consumers consider their water quality to be only average or worse, which provides a significant market opportunity for suppliers going forward.

Lubricant demand in India is expected to increase 2.9% per year to nearly 3.2 million metric tons in 2024, among the fastest rates of growth among major lubricant markets.

A new Freedonia Group analysis finds that retail sales of water filtration systems spiked 8.2% to nearly $1.6 billion in 2020, due in part to the trickle-down effects of stay-at-home orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through 2024, the Asia/Pacific region and North America are forecast to account for 80% of all new commercial refrigeration equipment demand globally.

Some pandemic trends – like the rise of curbside pickup and online food delivery – are expected to stick around.

Demand for commercial refrigerated equipment will generally grow at an above average in the developing countries of Central and South America, the Asia/Pacific, and the Africa/Mideast region.

The vast majority of newly installed vending machines offer smart features and internet connectivity, which can both boost product sales and reduce maintenance expenses.